As a college student, you might have a difficult time finding a gift for Father’s Day that fits your student budget. However, finding frugal Father’s Day gifts might not be as difficult as it seems. The key is to be thoughtful when selecting a gift.


Below is a list of Father’s day gift ideas for those on a tight student budget.

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

College Paraphernalia for Fathers Your father is proud of you for attending college and is eager to show it off. Therefore, college paraphernalia can make a great gift. College bookstores usually sell merchandise (such as coffee mugs, window clings and T-shirts) that has the name of your college coupled with the words "Dad" or "parent." Unless you plan to order online, you may have to plan ahead and purchase this gift before you leave campus for the summer.

Have a Date with Dad Take your dad out. Choose an activity that he enjoys. If you have siblings, you can all take your father out together and split the cost.

Watch a Game with Him If your father enjoys sports, then spend a few hours watching a game with him. If going to watch a professional sports team play does not fit into your student budget, watch a game on television or at the local high school.

Cook His Favorite Dinner If your dad appreciates having a home-cooked meal, cook his favorite dish for the two of you to enjoy. If you have siblings, you can share the cost of the food and the meal preparation tasks.

Do Yard Work for Him If your father usually undertakes the responsibility of keeping up with the yard, then cut the grass or complete another outside chore that your father normally would do to show him that you are thinking of him.

Frame a Photo Make a copy of a photograph of you and your father having fun together and put it in a nice frame for your father. It doesn’t matter when the photograph was taken. It can be from a time when you were a child or a week ago. What matters most is bringing back a good memory of the two of you. If you have siblings, you can find a picture of all of you together and give it as a group gift.

Make a Video Use your mobile phone or a digital camera to create a video telling your dad how much you love him.

Personalize a Mug If your dad likes to drink coffee you can make him his own coffee mug that reminds him of you. There are a few inexpensive ways to make a personalized mug. One type of personalized mug is a photo mug. Many photo centers in department stores and online photo shops will create photo mugs inexpensively. Another way to create a special mug for your father is to visit a pottery studio that offers ready-to-paint ceramics and personalize a mug just for him. However you decide to create the mug, the important thing to remember is to personalize it so that your father knows you were truly thinking of him.


Father’s Day gifts do not have to be expensive. The most important thing to remember when selecting a gift for your father is to show him that you are thinking about him.